Located in the heart of the city, the breathtaking Arena di Verona is often referred to as a “mini Colosseum.” Built in 30 CE, it predates the Roman amphitheater by nearly fifty years. As Verona’s most famous landmark, the Arena continues to host major concerts and theatrical performances, including its annual summer opera festival.
The Arena di Verona Opera Festival, the oldest of its kind in the world, was first launched in 1913 with a performance of Aida, celebrating the 100th birthday of composer Giuseppe Verdi. However, due to interruptions caused by the World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is only marking its 100th anniversary in 2023.
This centennial celebration will kick off on June 16th with—you guessed it—Aida, which has been a staple of the festival since its inception. This magnificent opera will be performed on 13 evenings throughout the summer festival.
However, Aida is just one of many operas featured in the festival. The centennial event will showcase some of the most famous and beloved operas, including:
- Carmen (June 23, July 6, August 11, August 24, September 6)
- The Barber of Seville (June 24, 30; July 13, 22)
- Rigoletto (July 1, 7, 20; August 4)
- La Traviata (July 8, 14, 27; August 19, 26; September 9)
- Nabucco (July 15, 28; August 3, 17)
- Tosca (July 29; August 5, 10; September 1)
- Madame Butterfly (August 12, 25; September 2, 7)
In addition to these operatic performances, renowned artist Placido Domingo will grace the festival stage on August 6th. Additionally, Milan’s Teatro alla Scala will make its debut at the festival on August 31st.
I hope this article inspires you to consider adding Verona to your travel plans this summer. Experiencing an opera or classical music performance beneath the stars in a 2,000-year-old Roman arena is surely one of the most enchanting experiences you can have in Italy—or anywhere in the world.
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Last updated on May 17th, 2023
Post first published on April 21, 2023
